Cap having illuminating and pivotably movable fan

ABSTRACT

A cap having a crown sized for receiving a head of a wearer and a lid connected to a front portion of the crown, the cap including a pivotably movable fan having a fan body and a motor for driving a plurality of rotateable fan blades for providing cool ambient air to the wearer. The fan may be provided with illuminated devices for illuminating light when the cap is worn in unlit or dimly lit areas.

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/963,334, filed Aug. 3, 2007.

BACKGROUND

Various types of headwear such as hats, caps and the like may beequipped with a battery-driven fan provided at the visor or lid forcooling the wearer by supplying cool, ambient air thereto.

The aforementioned cap design, however, has serious ergonomic drawbacks.For instance, the fan body may be permanently attached to the visor orlid at an opening by way of a retaining ring, flange or bracket.Consequently, the fan is not removeably attached to permit wearing ofthe cap when a cooling function is not required or otherwise needed.Moreover, the cap lacks any mechanism for not only providing cool,ambient air to the wearer, but also providing heat during cold weatherclimates.

Moreover, during instances when a wearer would like to wear the cap at asporting event or during other leisure moments, the lid usually blocksor obstructs light projecting toward the wearer. Therefore, it maybecome difficult for a wearer to comfortably read a publication such asa book, newspaper and the like.

The configuration and size of the battery is such that it makes the capuncomfortable for the wearer. Particularly, the placement of the batterymay be provided at a frontal interior surface of the crown of the capwhich contacts the forehead of the wearer, making it uncomfortable towear, especially for prolonged periods of time.

Lastly, because the fan and its motor are exposed to the elements, themotor, and thus the functionality of the fan, will be compromised if thecap is worn during rain, snow, sleet conditions.

Accordingly, there is a need to mitigate or otherwise reduce theaforementioned limitations.

In view of the foregoing, embodiments are related to an article ofheadwear such as a cap, hat or the like including a crown for receivinga head of a wearer and a lid portion connected to a front portion of thecrown. Particularly, the cap can include at least one of the following:a cooling device pivotably mounted to the lid, the cooling device havinga plurality of rotateable blades for providing cool ambient air to thewearer and a motor for driving the plurality of rotateable blades,wherein the pivotable mounting of the cooling device permits the coolingto be moved in fore, aft, left and right directions to direct localized,cool ambient air towards or away from the body of the wearer.

Embodiments are related to a cap having a crown sized for receiving ahead of a wearer and a lid connected to a front portion of the crown. Inaccordance with embodiments, the cap can include at least one of thefollowing: a fan having a fan body and a motor for driving a pluralityof rotateable fan blades for providing cool ambient air to the wearer; amounting mechanism for pivotably mounting the fan to the lid formovement in fore, aft, left and right directions in order to directlocalized, cool ambient air towards or away from the wearer; and aprotective cover for covering a top portion of the cooling device forpreventing at least one of debris and moisture from impeding theoperation of the cooling device.

Embodiments are related to a cap having a crown sized for receiving ahead of a wearer and a lid connected to a front portion of the crown. Inaccordance with embodiments, the cap can include at least one of thefollowing: a cooling device for providing cool ambient air to thewearer; a mounting mechanism for pivotably mounting the cooling deviceto the lid for movement in fore, aft, left and right directions in orderto direct localized, cool ambient air towards or away from the wearer; aplurality of illuminating devices provided on the cooling device forprojecting illuminating light; at least one heating device removeablyattached to the crown for providing localized heat to the wearer; aprotective cover for covering a top portion of the cooling device.

Embodiments are related to a cap having a crown sized for receiving ahead of a wearer and a lid connected to a front portion of the crown. Inaccordance with embodiments, the cap can include at least one of thefollowing: a cooling device pivotably and removeably attached to the lidfor providing cool ambient air to the wearer; at least one heatingdevice removeably attached to the crown for providing heat to thewearer; and a protective cover for covering a top portion of the coolingdevice for preventing at least one of debris and moisture from impedingthe operation of the cooling device.

The cooling device may include a fan having a fan body and a pluralityof fan blades that are driven when the fan motor is activated. The fanmotor is electrically connected to a power source such as a dry cellbattery that is connected to an inner surface of the crown.

The heating device can include one or more inserts composed of apolymeric material having a printed circuit element with a resistancecircuit provided thereon. The heating elements may be attached to theinner surface of the crown and may be each electrically connected bywiring to a power source such as a dry cell battery.

In order to permit the wearer to see during poorly lit situations, thefan body and/or the fan blades can be composed of a transparent materialprovided with one or more illuminators which project light. Suchilluminators can take the form of a plurality of light emitting diodes(LEDs) that project light with a minimum amount of electric energy. TheLEDs may be programmable to change colors. In such case, the fan bodycan be connected to an electric motor which causes the fan blades torotate when activated and also causes the fan to project light.Alternatively, a plurality of LEDs maybe provided on the bottom and/ortop surfaces of the fan body and/or the fan blades. In such case, theLEDs may be electrically connected to the same power source as theheating device and/or the cooling device, or have a separate anddistinct power source that is attachable to the crown of the cap.

The cap can be removeably secured to the top portion attachmentmechanism in order to prevent moisture and/or debris from entering thefan. This can permit the fan to be activated during instances ofinclimate weather to prevent the fan from shutting off from the entry ofrain and/or snow. The cap may also be used at the beach to prevent theentry of sand and/or dust particles.

Embodiments are related to a cap having a crown sized for receiving ahead of a wearer and a lid connected to a front portion of the crown,the cap including at least one heating device removeably attached to theinner surface of the crown for providing localized heat to the wearer.In accordance with embodiments, each at least one heating device caninclude a plurality of electrical resistance heaters electricallyconnected to a printed circuit element which delivers an electricalcurrent thereto. Moreover, the least one heating element is disposed inan insulating jacket composed of at least one of a flexible, durable,insulating, weather-resistant material.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following description when taken inconjunction with the detailed drawings that show, for purposes ofillustration only, the preferred embodiments of the invention.

DRAWINGS

Example FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a cap having an illuminating and pivotablefan and heating device, in accordance with embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in example FIGS. 1 to 3, in accordance with embodiments,cap 10 having crown portion 11 and lid portion 12 connected to crownportion. Lid portion 12 can include a cooling device for providing cool,ambient air to a wearer. The cooling device can be composed of a fan 20sized for removeable attachment to lid 12 by way of an attachmentmechanism such as retaining ring 21. The removeability feature of fan 20makes cap 10 wearable in instances when cooling air is not requiredsince the wearer may simply remove fan 20 from ring 21 for temporarystorage.

As illustrated in example FIG. 4, fan 20 can include fan body 22 andelectric motor 23 for driving a plurality of rotateable fan blades 24.Motor 23 can be electrically connected by wiring 25 to a power source.The power source can be composed of at least one solar panel or at leastone dry cell battery 26. Battery 26 can be removably storable incompartment 27. Compartment 27 can be removeably attached usingmechanical fastener 28 such as velcro and the like to the inner surfaceof crown 11. Accordingly, cap 10 may be worn with fan 20 by removingboth fan 20 and battery 26 for temporary storage until needed.

Compartment 27 prevents battery 26 from unwanted contact with the headof the wearer, or otherwise exposure of battery 26 to moisture and/ordebris. Compartment 27 can be composed of a flexible and durablematerial such as leather or a polymer and include a pivotable flap whichwhen manipulated upwardly exposes an anterior pocket sized to receivebattery 26 and also permit the removal of battery 26 when replacement isrequired. The power source can include a switch to permit activation ordeactivation of fan 20. The switch may be an on/off switch or a variableswitch.

In order to permit the wearer to see during poorly lit situations, atleast one of fan body 22 and fan blades 24 can be composed of atransparent material provided with one or more illuminators whichproject light. Such illuminators can take the form of a plurality oflight emitting diodes (LEDs) that project light with a minimum amount ofelectric energy. The LEDs may be programmable to change colors. In suchcase, fan body 22 can be electrically connected to motor 23 causing fanblades 24 to rotate and also project light when activated.

As illustrated in example FIG. 5, in accordance with embodiments, cap 10can include a cooling device such as fan 13 as described hereinabove,but also one or more heating devices 30 for providing sufficient heatand comfort to the head of the wearer. Heating device 30 can include aplurality of electrical resistance heaters electrically connected to aprinted circuit element such as wiring 31 which delivers an electricalcurrent thereto. The resistance heaters of heating device 30 can have apredetermined resistance of sufficient to generate localized heat to thehead of the wearer. The heating elements can be encased or otherwisedisposed in insulating jacket 32 composed of a flexible, durable,insulating, water-resistant material. Insulating jacket 32 can beprovided with a padded layer.

The printed circuit element, i.e., wiring 31 of the heating device 30can be electrically connected to a second power source such as at leastone dry cell battery 33. Alternatively, heating device 30 may beelectrically connected to the same power source as fan 20. Battery 33can be removably storable in a suitable compartment constructed in thesame manner as compartment 27. The power source for heating device 30can also include a separate switch to permit activation or deactivationof heating device 30. The switch may be an on/off switch or a variableswitch.

Insulating jacket or housing 32 can be removeably attached to the innersurface of crown 11. Because insulating jacket 32 can be removeablyattached by a mechanical fastener such as velcro to enable the wearer toposition heating devices 30 in selected areas along the inner surface ofcrown 11. For instance, at least one heating device 30 can be placed ata front portion of crown 11 such as behind the sweat pad, at a rearportion of crown 11, and at an upper portion of crown 11 to enable thehead of the wearer to be provided with sufficient heat during coldweather situations. Moreover, because heating devices 30 are encased ininsulating jacket 32, heating devices 30 can be activated even in rain,snow or windy weather conditions.

While embodiments illustrate a cap having a cooling device and a heatingdevice for providing cooling and heating to a wearer, respectively, capmay include only a heating configuration as described herein.

As illustrated in example in example FIG. 6, cap 10 may includeprotective cover 40 that can be removeably secured on and/or over fan 20for preventing moisture and/or debris from entering fan 20, and thus,prematurely shutting off fan 20. Cover 40 can be advantageous forpermitting activation of fan 20 during instances of poor weatherconditions such as rain, sleet, snow, etc. Cover 40 can also be used atsandy or dusty environments such as the beach to prevent the entry ofsand and/or dust particles into fan 20. Cover 40 can be composed of adurable, non-conductive material such as a polymer and/or composite.Cover 40 can be composed of a transparent material that permitsilluminating light of fan 20 to be seen.

As illustrated in example in example FIG. 7, a plurality of LEDs 50 canbe attached to bottom and/or top surfaces of at least one of fan body22, motor 23 and fan blades 24 to project light in order to permit thewearer to read when located in a poorly lit environment. In such case,LEDs 50 can be electrically connected to the same power source of atleast one of fan 20 and heating device 30, or have a separate anddistinct power source attachable to crown 11.

As illustrated in example FIGS. 8 and 9, in accordance with embodiments,fan 60 can be pivotably and removable mounted to lid 12 in order todirect localized, cool ambient air towards or away from the body of thewearer. Such pivotal and removable attachment of fan 60 may occur by wayof an attachment mechanism such as retaining ring or bracket 61.Alternatively, fan 60 can be pivotably and/or removably mounted directlyto lid 12 without use of ring or bracket 61. Such mounting may occurusing longitudinal stem 62 having a first end removably connected to thefan body and a second, distal end fixedly connected to base 63. Base 63can, in turn, be attached to mounting bracket 61 such that the outermostsurface of base 63 faces outward from the interior surface of lid 12,i.e., faces the outside. First end of stem 62 can terminate into a ballreceived by a socket provided on the fan body to provide a ball andsocket joint connection permitting the fan body to be rotated in fore,aft, left and right directions relative to one of lid 12 and base 63.While a ball-and-socket connection is a preferred embodiment, anyconventional connection permitting such movement can also be provided.

Such pivotal mounting of fan 60 permits fan 60 to be pivoted between 0to 90 degrees relative to the upper surface of lid 11 in fore, aft, leftand right directions. Particularly, fan 60 can be moved from a normalposition as illustrated in FIG. 1 to either fore, aft, left and rightpositions. For example, movement in an aft direction can result in fan60 directing air to an area at or near the face of the wearer. On theother hand, movement in a fore direction can result in fan 60 directingair away from the body of the wearer to remove unwanted dust particles,smoke and/or debris opening a path for wearer to see. Pivoted movementof fan 60 can be effectuated manually or automatically. Any suchautomatic movement can be done by direct wire connection or by wirelessmeans.

Although embodiments have been described herein, it should be understoodthat numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised bythose skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope ofthe principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variationsand modifications are possible in the component parts and/orarrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope ofthe disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition tovariations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements,alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

1. A cap having a crown sized for receiving a head of a wearer and a lidconnected to a front portion of the crown, the cap comprising: a coolingdevice pivotably mounted to the lid, the cooling device having aplurality of rotateable blades for providing cool ambient air to thewearer and a motor for driving the plurality of rotateable blades,wherein the pivotable mounting of the cooling device permits the coolingto be moved in fore, aft, left and right directions to direct localized,cool ambient air towards or away from the body of the wearer.
 2. The capof claim 1, wherein the cooling device is pivotably mounted to the lidby way of a mounting mechanism.
 3. The cap of claim 2, wherein themounting mechanism comprises: a bracket sized for receipt in a holeprovided in the lid; and a ball-and-socket arrangement for mounting thecooling device to the bracket
 4. The cap of claim 3, wherein theball-and-socket connection comprises a longitudinal stem having a firstend removably connected to the cooling device and a second, distal endfixedly connected to a base provided on the bracket.
 5. The cap of claim4, wherein the first end of the stein terminates into a ball received bya socket provided on the cooling device.
 6. The cap of claim 1, furthercomprising a plurality of illuminating devices provided on the coolingdevice for projecting light.
 7. The cap of claim 1, further comprisingat least one heating device removeably attached to the crown forproviding heat to the wearer.
 8. The cap of claim 7, wherein each atleast one heating device comprises a plurality of electrical resistanceheaters electrically connected to a printed circuit element whichdelivers an electrical current thereto.
 9. The cap of claim 1, whereinthe cooling device comprises a fan having a fan body and an electricmotor for driving a plurality of rotateable fan blades.
 10. The cap ofclaim 9, wherein the electric motor is electrically connected to a powersource.
 11. The cap of claim 1, wherein the fan body is removablyattached to the lid.
 12. A cap having a crown sized for receiving a headof a wearer and a lid connected to a front portion of the crown, the capcomprising: a fan having a fan body and a motor for driving a pluralityof rotateable fan blades for providing cool ambient air to the wearer; amounting mechanism for pivotably mounting the fan to the lid formovement in fore, aft, left and right directions in order to directlocalized, cool ambient air towards or away from the wearer; and aprotective cover for covering a top portion of the cooling device forpreventing at least one of debris and moisture from impeding theoperation of the cooling device.
 13. The cap of claim 12, wherein atleast one of the fan body and the fan blades is composed of atransparent material having at least one illuminator for projectinglight by illuminating the at least one of the fan body and the fanblades.
 14. The cap of claim 12, further comprising a power sourceelectrically connected to the motor.
 15. The cap of claim 12, furthercomprising at least one heating device removeably attached to the crownfor providing heat to the wearer.
 16. The cap of claim 12, wherein theprotective cover is removeably secured over the fan.
 17. A cap having acrown sized for receiving a head of a wearer and a lid connected to afront portion of the crown, the cap comprising: a cooling device forproviding cool ambient air to the wearer; a mounting mechanism forpivotably mounting the cooling device to the lid for movement in fore,aft, left and right directions in order to direct localized, coolambient air towards or away from the wearer; a plurality of illuminatingdevices provided on the cooling device for projecting illuminatinglight; at least one heating device removeably attached to the crown forproviding localized heat to the wearer; a protective cover for coveringa top portion of the cooling device.
 18. The cap of claim 17, whereinthe cooling device comprises a fan having a fan body and an electricmotor for driving a plurality of rotateable fan blades.
 19. The cap ofclaim 18, wherein at least one of the fan body and the fan blades iscomposed of a transparent material and the illuminating devices areproviding in the at least one of the fan body and the fan blades. 20.The cap of claim 18, wherein at least one of the fan body and the fanblades is composed of a transparent material and the illuminatingdevices are providing on the surface of the at least one of the fan bodyand the fan blades.